Minister Rickford emphasized the strategic importance of these approvals for Canada and the world. Market diversification for Canada’s natural gas remains a top priority for the Government of Canada. Canada has an abundance of natural gas and the potential to become a major global supplier of LNG.

The growing economies of Asia are obvious markets due to the short shipping distance from the British Columbia coast. A fully laden tanker leaving Canada’s Pacific Coast can reach Asia in as little as 11 days — about a month faster than a tanker leaving from the Gulf of Mexico.

Approval of these licences will allow the proponents to export up to 73.38 million tonnes of LNG per year.